STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1387

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 775

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 775, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Commission on the Status of Women

G.M. No. 775

LESLIE WILKINS, for a term to expire 6-30-2015,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee and finds Leslie Wilkins to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Commission on the Status of Women.

     Testimony in support of the nominee was submitted by the Department of Human Services and the Executive Director for the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women.

     Leslie Wilkins is currently Vice President and Program Director of Maui Economic Development Board, Inc., (MEDB).  During her work with MEDB, she created, launched, and led the implementation of the Women in Technology Project, a pilot and demonstration program that is designed to engage more girls, women, and minorities into the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math pipeline.  This program has grown to serve more than fifteen thousand participants annually statewide and regionally, and has been cited as a national best practices model.  Prior to joining MEDB in 1999, Ms. Wilkins acted as a consultant, serving a broad, nonprofit client base to whom she provided program development services, advised on revenue diversification strategies, and wrote proposals.  Prior to that time, Ms. Wilkins worked in the commercial banking industry, in the areas of operations, branch management, consumer lending, and personnel management.

     Ms. Wilkins is also an experienced advocate for women and workplace equity issues, serving in state and national leadership roles with the Business & Professional Women's Organization for over twenty years.  Within that organization, she has served on several national committees and held several national positions, including the Vice President and President.  Ms. Wilkins has also served on the Commission on the Status of Women from 1996 through 2003.  Ms. Wilkins currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Women's Fund of Hawaii and as Vice Chair of the Maui County Workforce Investment Board.

     Testimony submitted in support of Ms. Wilkins' nomination praise her vast experience as an advocate for women and workplace equity gained through her service in leadership positions on numerous state and national organizations through her professional work and volunteer advocacy work.  Your Committee finds that Ms. Wilkins' experience and commitment to the advancement of women and workplace equity issues will be valuable to the Commission on the Status of Women.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair